Although caring for a loved one is your utmost priority, we understand how emotionally and physically demanding it can be. This is where our flexible respite services can help.
LIVE-IN RESPITE CARE
What is live-in respite care?
Respite care is a temporary care solution designed to step in precisely when you need it most. At Ashridge Home Care, we find that families commonly seek our short-term respite support for two primary reasons:
To give a family carer a well-earned break
To provide dedicated support and rehabilitation after a hospital operation
24 hour respite care lets you take a break, safe in the knowledge that your loved one is looked after.
We do everything we can to maintain your established routines, and we welcome any advice on how best to keep things calm and comforting while you’re away. Crucially, taking a break doesn’t always mean your loved one stays at home with a carer while you travel away. Sometimes, it simply means we take on the daily household chores so you can spend quality time relaxing together without the stress of being the primary caregiver.
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Hospital to home, made easier
Leaving the hospital following an emergency or even a planned operation can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. We also provide flexible, short-term care designed entirely around your recovery to help you regain your independence safely.
What are the benefits of receiving respite care at home?
In order to show up best for ourselves and our loved ones, everyone needs a break. So, if you’ve been the primary carer for your loved one, respite care can bring plenty of benefits for both of you:
- Allows time to rest – caring for a loved one can be challenging and tiring. Taking the time to rest is great for your physical and mental health, allowing you to better care for your loved one in the future.
- Gives back personal time – your cup must be full before you can fill up others. Buying back personal time gives you the chance to practice self-care and do the hobbies you enjoy.
- Prevents social isolation – when caring full-time, you may not have time for friends and family, which can be incredibly damaging to your mental health.
- New companionship – respite care gives your loved one a fresh break too, allowing them to make a new companion and enjoy their company.
Respite care: essential facts
Why is respite care important?
Respite care matters because caring for a loved one can be rewarding but can also become physically tiring and emotionally draining over time. Respite care helps carers take time out and stop their caring responsibilities from becoming too exhausting and hard to manage.
For many families, the pressure around care builds slowly. First, there may be just the occasional meals to prepare or calls to ensure medication was taken. But it can quickly build into managing appointments, personal hygiene, and even companionship. This can create a constant worry that nags in the background. If this continues without a break, it can affect sleep, health and family life. Taking a short step back can help protect everyone’s wellbeing, not only the wellbeing of the main carer.
Good respite care also helps preserve the relationship between a loved one and their family. Instead of every interaction becoming about tasks and responsibilities, there is more space to simply enjoy time together. That can make a real difference when caring has started to feel overwhelming.
What are the different types of available respite care?
Respite care can be arranged in different ways depending on the level of support needed, how long the break is for and what feels right for your loved one. Respite care options range from someone sitting with the person you care for from as little as a few hours to 24-hour live-in respite care.
The main types of respite care can be divided into care at home – either visiting respite care or live-in respite care – or care away from home.
Respite care at home | |
| Hourly respite care at home | A professional carer visits for a few hours to help with daily routines and provide reassurance while the usual carer takes a break. Home care and hourly care can be very flexible, from an hour a week to several hours a day or at night. |
| Live-in respite care | A trained carer stays in the home to provide ongoing support. This can be on a more permanent basis or arranged for a specific period, such as a holiday. |
| Companionship services | Similar to hourly care, companionship services will have someone come into your loved one’s home and stay with them so you can have time for yourself during the day. |
| Overnight care services | A carer supports through the night, which can be especially helpful if your loved one needs reassurance, assistance or supervision overnight. |
Respite care away from home | |
| Day care or day centre support | Your loved one attends a day service for support, activities and social interaction while you have time to rest or manage other responsibilities. |
| Short-term residential respite care | This means a temporary stay in a care home or nursing home. |
For many families, respite care at home feels like the most reassuring option because it allows a loved one to remain in familiar surroundings, with their normal routine, belongings and home comforts.
Emergency respite care services
It’s also worth noting that because of the fully managed service from Ashridge Home Care that emergency respite care can be arranged in your home. This is short-term support arranged at short notice when unexpected situations arise, such as illness, family emergencies or a sudden change in the main carer’s circumstances.
The benefits of respite care for your loved one
Respite care can also benefit the loved one you are caring for a great deal. When high quality support is arranged, it ensures comfort, routine and continuity in the place they know best. Help at home can include live-in respite care – it is flexible and tailored specifically around the person’s needs.
The benefits for your loved one may include:
- Comfort of familiar surroundings . Staying at home can feel calmer and more reassuring than moving to an unfamiliar place for a short time.
- Continued support with daily routines. Help with washing, dressing, meals, medication and mobility can make everyday life feel steadier.
- Companionship and reassurance. A respite carer can provide company, conversation and a calm presence during the day or overnight.
- A sense of dignity and independence. With the right support, many older people can continue doing the things they enjoy and remain involved in day-to-day life.
- Professional, consistent care. Having a trained carer in place can help reduce disruption and support wellbeing while the main carer rests.
For someone who is older, frail or living with dementia, that sense of continuity can be especially important. Familiar routines and familiar surroundings often help life feel more settled. The person needing care will feel supported and safe while also knowing that their family is supported.
Older people or people with disabilities can feel guilt over their care requirements, and while family members often do everything they can to reassure loved ones, signs of carer’s stress or tiredness can exacerbate the situation. For your loved ones, the knowledge that you are doing well reassures and comforts them.
Who is elderly respite care for?
Elderly respite care is for older people to provide support at home, and for the relatives or friends who usually help care for them. It is replacement care for both you and your loved one to give the regular carers breaks to recharge.
There are many benefits to live in respite care. It may be suitable when the elderly person:
- needs help with daily tasks and usual routines
- is recovering from illness, a fall or an operation
- needs specialist care, nursing care or short-term care after a hospital discharge
- is living with dementia or increasing frailty
- has an elderly partner who is the main carer (couples)
- has a wider family who need support during holidays, work or other commitments or emergencies
- has regular carers who need breaks to protect their own health and wellbeing
It can usually be arranged at short notice for a few hours, a few days or longer, depending on what is needed.
Signs you need to consider taking a break from caring
Many people wait until they feel completely exhausted before they ask for help. CarersUK research shows that 74% of carers have felt stress or anxiety, with 35% admitting their mental health is bad or very bad.
Recognising the signs that you’re struggling and asking for help is vital, as it can help prevent the situation from escalating into an emergency.
It may be time to think about respite care if you:
- feel physically or emotionally drained
- are not sleeping properly, you never seem to have time to rest
- are neglecting your own health needs
- feel anxious about leaving your loved one alone
- find that caring is affecting work, family life or relationships
- feel constantly on edge or overwhelmed
These feelings are not a sign of failure. They are often a sign that the caring role has become too heavy a burden without support for the regular caregiver. A free carer’s assessment arranged by your local authority / council may also help identify what support could make life more manageable. You can also contact Ashridge Home Care directly for an informal chat about your needs on 01494 917344.
How much does it cost to arrange respite care?
The cost of respite care depends on the type of care needed, how long it is required for and whether professional care is arranged at home or in a residential care setting. While the NHS does provide broad hourly costs for help at home from a paid carer, this varies depending on where you live and what type of care is required. The Ashridge Home Care team provides full details on pricing for your specific needs when arranging care. Reach out to us directly on 01494 917344 for an accurate estimate of costs to fund respite care.
The overall cost may be affected by:
- how many hours of support are needed
- whether care is during the day, overnight or live-in
- the level of personal care required
- whether specialist support is needed, such as dementia care
- where you live
- whether the care is arranged privately or with council / local authority support
Some people may be entitled to help with care costs, depending on their circumstances. You can ask your local council for a needs assessment to identify your loved one’s care requirements, and carers can ask for a separate carer’s assessment.
When considering the cost, it’s important to remember that healthy carers make better carers. If you don’t take breaks, you may end up facing more emotional and financial costs down the line.
What do respite carers do?
A respite carer steps in to provide safe, supportive care with minimal disruption while the usual carer takes a break. Their role is to make daily life as comfortable and familiar as possible, with temporary support tailored to the person’s needs and routine. This includes support at home with personal care, meal preparation, medication support and help at different times of day, including night care and live-in care.
Live in respite carers provide one-to-one support with:
- washing, dressing and personal care
- preparing nutritious meals and drinks
- support with medication
- mobility support around the home
- toileting and continence support
- laundry and light household tasks
- companionship and conversation
- support with hobbies or routines
- extra support after a hospital stay
- overnight reassurance where needed
High quality care at home is about more than tasks. It is also about helping someone feel calm, respected and cared for in a way that feels personal. That matters – especially when support is being introduced at a sensitive time. It also provides temporary relief for family carers to take a well-deserved break from their caring responsibilities.
Ready to take the next step to arrange respite care?
Arranging respite care can feel like a big step, especially if this is the first time your family has looked for outside support or temporary care. In practice, it often starts with a simple conversation about what is becoming harder, what kind of break is needed and what would help your loved one feel comfortable at home.
Whether you need a few hours of professional support, overnight care or short-term live-in respite care, the aim is the same: to make life feel safer, calmer and more manageable for everyone involved. In home respite care services cannot remove the emotions that come with caring, but it can bring breathing space, reassurance and practical help at the right time.
ABOUT US
Why choose Ashridge Home Care?
The Ashridge Team
We have been rated as Outstanding in the Caring Category by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). With an overall rating of Good in all other categories for being safe, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs.
Whether you need a lot of support or just a little looking after, we will provide flexible, cost-effective, tailored care to suit your needs.
At Ashridge Home Care, our commitment to excellence extends beyond ratings. We pride ourselves on promoting meaningful connections with our clients and understanding their unique preferences and requirements.
We not only focus on physical wellbeing, but also emotional and social support, ensuring a holistic and fulfilling experience.
Rest assured, your loved one’s comfort and satisfaction are our utmost priorities, driving us to continuously adapt and improve our services.
We guarantee to find a carer that you are happy with – if you are not happy we will replace your carer with someone else more suited.
HOW IT WORKS
What is the process for arranging live-in respite care?
You deserve a break which is why arranging live-in respite care is a breeze. Simply fill in our form or give us a call on 01494 917 344
We’ll then arrange for your dedicated care manager to meet with you and your loved one to discuss what’s required.
After getting to know you both, we’ll assign a carer that suits your needs and their personality. So you can enjoy your well-deserved respite and your loved one is cared for.
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FAQ’s
Get all the information you need
Respite care is a sensible option when your loved one is recovering after an operation or a fall. If they need urgent care while getting back to full strength, it’s much more comforting to recuperate in their own home. You’ve got your favourite food, the bed’s just how you like it and when you’re feeling up to it, we positively encourage as many visitors as you want!
At Ashridge, we understand that everyone’s different with a variety of different needs and care requirements. This is why we discuss everything in detail beforehand, so we can provide your loved one with the comprehensive care they need. Our live-in care service covers:
- Personal care such as bathing and dressing
- Assistance with household chores such as cleaning and laundry
- Cooking and preparing meals
- Shopping
- Taking care of pets and the garden
- Booking and attending appointments
- Assisting with social activities and hobbies
- Administering medication
- Assisting with physiotherapy exercises and mobility support
The cost of care can vary depending on your family’s individual needs and the level of care needed. Our home care services offer personalised support tailored to your loved one’s needs. For precise cost estimates, we advise reaching out to us directly on 01494 917344. Our team can offer comprehensive details on pricing structures, any additional fees, and customisable options. Additionally, we provide complimentary assessments to gauge the required level of care and offer a more accurate estimate of costs.
